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Last Updated:
Jan 3rd, 2010 - 00:09:53
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Question
Hello,
I am breastfeeding my 7 month old full time (he is eating solids also) and haven't had a period yet. I recently bought a saliva ovulation tester and around the 2nd/3rd of December it came up positive for ovulation (seeing tons of ferning on the slide). However, I recently took a pregnancy test (the 21st of December) and it came up negative and I still haven't had a period. Do the saliva tests work for breastfeeding mothers? I can't think of another explantion...should I take another pregnancy test in a week or so?
Thanks!
Jennifer
Answer
Dear Jennifer,
I has been my experience that on average breastfeeding women return to fertility and have their first period around 9 months....some earlier, some later. It is possible to have what is called an anovulatory event... estrogen levels rise but there is no ovulation. This may be the explanation for the positive result on the saliva test but negative pregnancy test. Women using natural family planning are able to identify possible fertile phase while breastfeeding. They can choose to avoid intercouse during those phases and avoid the the concern of an unplanned pregnancy. If it is your desire not to conceive at this time, you might want to look for an instructor in NFP.
Best of luck with your new little one.
Winnie Neill
Winnie and her husband, Bob, have been using, teaching and promoting NFP for 29 years.
She serves on both the NFP Advisory Board in Sacramento and the CANFP board of directors.
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